Monday again. Did everyone have a nice Father’s Day weekend? I hope you enjoyed celebrating with the dads in your lives. Around here, we kept things low-key at hubby’s request: just a quiet day hanging out at home. We had my father-in-law over for dinner, which was wonderful. Peanut was so excited that Grandpa was in the house! Of course, he got some snuggles in with Nugget, too – whenever Peanut permitted him to, that is. I roasted a chicken and some new potatoes using my current favorite combination of seasonings (smoked Spanish paprika and Penzey’s Northwoods seasoning) and on the side we had a salad of mixed greens and herbs plucked straight from the garden. (I owe you a garden update, by the way – coming on Wednesday.) It was a good meal, with good company. Just right.
On the book front, I had a bit of a reading setback this week. I’ve been making my way through the library stack and have been almost staying on top of it. At the end of the week I (through hubby) returned four books and checked out five more, including two new books that must be returned in seven days. So I turned my attention to one of those – In the Unlikely Event, the new Judy Blume – and so far I’m about halfway through it. It’s distressing, but riveting at the same time; I’m having difficulty in putting it down. Unfortunately, that meant that the book I had just started – Doomsday Book, by Connie Willis – would need to wait. But when I went to renew Doomsday Book (it was one day overdue – oops) it turned out there’s a waiting list and I couldn’t renew it. Who knew? So Doomsday Book is on its way back to the library today, and I’ll jump back into the holds queue on that one. Disappointing, but it is what it is. I’ll probably finish In the Unlikely Event within the next couple of days, and then turn my attention to my other seven-day book: Disclaimer, by Renee Knight. After that, who knows? I have a few other books out with “waiting pool” stickers on them, so they’ll have to take priority. I’m thinking of picking up the new Gretchen Rubin (Better than Before) next, since I know I won’t be able to renew that. But we’ll see.
On the blog this week, look for the aforementioned garden update on Wednesday, and a BlumeAlong post on Friday. Have a good week, my friends!
covered in flour 
In the Unlikely Event sounds like a good one – I loved her novels while growing up and also really liked Wifey. I’m reading Tinkers by Paul Harding for now and I love it for the poetic writing style. I’m glad you had a fun Father’s Day. That’s great that you’re already getting vegetables from your garden!
IN THE UNLIKELY EVENT was really good – I finished it a few days ago and am still thinking about it. (Mostly in a good way, although I tend to be a nervous flier, and I don’t think it helped there.) I’ll have to check out TINKERS. I just read the description and it sounds wonderful – very different.
I’ll be honest, I’m shocked that I’m getting vegetables! I assumed I’d kill everything since that’s what I usually do. Either those lettuces are really hardy, or I’m learning something! 🙂
Tinkers is a hard one to fully recommend because there isn’t much of a story. Some people don’t like it because of that, but I’m happy with the beautiful writing style. The descriptions of nature remind me of the Outermost House.
I’m glad to hear that your family had a lovely father’s day. We did too (also low key).
As for what I’m reading, I’m finishing up Boo by Neil Smith. I love it! It’s hilarious and I see some of my nerdy self in the main character (but thankfully not too much of myself in him!).
Glad to hear you enjoyed a nice father’s day weekend! It’s fun to celebrate these great dads. 🙂
I’m going to check out BOO! I could definitely go for something hilarious…
I hope you like it! I’ll have a review/commentary up at my blog either tomorrow or early next week (which is more likely). I’m way behind on a couple of work projects that will need attention into the night (and yet I’m still procrastinating!).
I really enjoyed Boo. It addresses very serious themes in an interesting, often amusing way. It’s ideal for those of us who were once very bookish 13-year-olds (it has lots of literary references, such as the “Meg Murry Infirmary”).
I’m looking forward to your review! Any book that references Meg Murry is guaranteed to intrigue at least a little bit!
If I remember correctly (I don’t have the book with me to check), there’s even a reference to Phoebe Caulfield!
Love! There was a reference to Phoebe Caulfield in the new Judy Blume, too. Perhaps she’s having a renaissance?